This is the classic Forestry cutlass worn by senior Foresters (denoted by the ivory grip and the gold/green knot) across Europe from the early 18th century onwards. They continued in use through the Weimar era and Third Reich, only latterly losing the by-knife. Lower ranks wore cutlasses with a stag horn grip and a plain green knot.

This is a gunner's 'walking out' hanger, akin in purpose to the dress bayonets of the Third Reich era, ie to be worn with dress uniform when not on duty in barracks. The issue version of this weapon was a much more substantial affair, although both continued in use throughout WW1.

This has major differences when compared to the standard Prussian officer's knot, principally the outstanding quality of the bullion work and the yellow centre to the base and the yellow fleck in the bullion collar at the top of the knot (hence the possible Brunswick attribution).

This hanger is almost certainly of German origin, probably the Oels family of Brunswick (the hereditary dukes) because of the presence of the gold 'O' featured in four places on the mounts. An unusual feature is the ovoid pommel, similar to that of a smallsword of the period.

The hilt could be Dutch or French, the use of tortoiseshell having been introduced to Europe in the late 17th century, probably through Dutch colonial connections. The mid 18th-century German blade (26" long) would have replaced an earlier, shorter, straight, double-edged blade (broken?), probably to enable the weapon's use as a naval hanger.